representatives

IPA/ˈkɒŋ.ɡres.mən/
KK[rˌɛprəzˈɛntətɪvz]IPA/ˈkɑːŋ.ɡres.mən/

representatives — noun

  • representativessingular
  • representativesesplural

1. a person who has been chosen to speak, make decisions, or carry out actions on b

1.nounB1
Definition

a person who has been chosen to speak, make decisions, or carry out actions on behalf of another person, a company, an organization, or a group of people

Example

A sales representative from the pharmaceutical company visited local clinics to introduce a new vaccine.

sales representative + from + [company]

Union representatives met with factory management to negotiate better safety conditions for workers.

representative + met with + [organization] + to + [purpose]

Common collocations
  • sales representative
  • customer service representative
  • union representative
  • company representative
  • official representative
  • appointed representative
  • act as a representative
  • send a representative
Synonyms
  • spokesperson

    focuses on speaking for an organization, often to the media or public

  • delegate

    someone sent to a meeting or conference with authority from a larger group

  • agent

    formal term for someone authorized to act for another, often in business or legal contexts

Antonyms
  • principal

    the person who gives authority to the representative to act on their behalf

Grammar Patterns

representative + of [organization/group]

representative + for [company/union]

Usage Note

Can combine with a wide range of role nouns: sales representative, customer service representative, union representative, company representative, legal representative. The person represented is introduced by of (representative of the workers) or for (representative for the region).

Common Mistakes

The lawyer acted as her representative in court while also being her attorney.
The lawyer acted as her legal representative in court.
'Legal representative' is the correct compound; avoid adding redundant explanation.
He is a representative of sell cars.
He is a sales representative for a car company.
'Representative' takes 'of' or 'for', not 'of + verb'.

2. a person who has been chosen by voters to serve in a law-making body such as a c

2.nounB2
Definition

a person who has been chosen by voters to serve in a law-making body such as a congress or parliament, where they vote on proposed laws and speak for the people of the area that elected them

Example

Mira, the representative from Ohio, introduced a bill to improve funding for rural schools.

representative + from + [state/district]

Voters across the district will elect a new representative to the state legislature in November.

elect a representative to [body]

Common collocations
  • elected representative
  • congressional representative
  • state representative
  • district representative
  • serve as a representative
Synonyms
  • congressperson

    gender-neutral term for a member of the US Congress; less common in everyday speech

  • legislator

    broader term covering any member of a law-making body, not just the US House

  • delegate

    used for someone sent to a conference or convention, not necessarily an elected legislator

Grammar Patterns

representative + of [place/district]

elected/state/congressional representative

Usage Note

Often capitalized (Representative) when it appears as part of a formal title, e.g. Representative Amelia Chen of California.

Common Mistakes

The senator and representative are both in Congress, but a representative speaks for a whole state.
The senator speaks for a whole state, while a representative speaks for a specific district within a state.
In the US system, representatives represent districts, not entire states.

3. a person, thing, or example that shows the typical qualities or features of a la

3.nounB2
Definition

a person, thing, or example that shows the typical qualities or features of a larger group or category, so that studying that one item tells you something about the whole group

Example

This painting is a fine representative of the artist's early style, with bold colors and rough brushstrokes.

representative + of + [category] — typical example

The researchers chose three small towns as representatives of rural communities across the Midwest.

as representatives of [broader group]

Common collocations
  • representative of
  • good representative
  • fine representative
  • excellent representative
  • typical representative
Synonyms
  • example

    simpler and more general; 'representative' adds the idea that the example is typical of the whole group

  • specimen

    used especially in scientific contexts for an individual item taken from a larger set

  • sample

    a small part of something that shows what the whole is like; common in research and statistics

Antonyms
  • exception

    an item that does not share the typical qualities of the group

  • anomaly

    something that is different from what is usual or expected

Grammar Patterns

representative + of [group/class/category]

Common Mistakes

This sample is a representative of the product range.
This sample is representative of the product range.
When describing a quality rather than naming a thing, use the adjective form 'representative of'.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Representative is the most general term for someone who acts or speaks for another person or group. A delegate is someone chosen to attend a meeting or conference and express the views of the group that sent them — the focus is on the temporary assignment. A deputy acts in place of a superior and has the authority to make decisions when that person is absent, often in a government or organizational hierarchy. A spokesperson specializes in communicating with the public or the media on behalf of an organization. An agent is a formal term, common in business and law, for someone authorized to enter into agreements or make binding decisions for another (the principal). For example, the union sent a delegate to the national conference, the mayor's deputy ran the city council meeting, the press officer acted as the company's spokesperson, and a real estate agent handled the property sale. Use representative when the core meaning is simply 'someone standing in for another' without specifying the type of authority.

delegate ↗deputy ↗spokesperson ↗agent ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • elected representative
  • trade representative
  • union representative
  • company representative
  • sales representative
  • customer service representative
  • legal representative
  • student representative

Adverbs

  • democratically elected
  • duly appointed
  • specially authorized

Phrases

  • act as a representative
  • serve as a representative
  • send a representative
  • appoint a representative
  • elect a representative

Prepositions

  • representative of
  • representative for

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Derived from the Latin verb 'repraesentare', meaning 'to present again, to bring before, to show'. This was formed from 're-' (again) and 'praesentare' (to present). The word entered English through Old French 'representatif' during the 14th century. The noun 'representative' in the sense of 'a person who represents others' appeared in the early 1600s, and the specific political meaning of 'elected member of a legislative body' became common in the late 1700s around the time of the American Revolution.

First known use

1635

1635, in the meaning defined at sense 1